Richmond Blueprint 2014: Tigers tall forward learning to work together and find balanceJay Clark
Herald-Sun
November 15, 2014 7:00PMRICHMOND says it better understands how to play three big men in the same forward line after struggling to fit them all in at times last season.
Ben Griffiths, 23, was preferred as a goalkicking partner to Jack Riewoldt, 26, in the final two games despite the availability of Tyrone Vickery, 24, after a four-game suspension.
Exciting tall Liam McBean is also expected to push for a senior berth next year after kicking hauls of 30 goals in each of his two VFL seasons.
The Tigers still relied heavily on Riewoldt to score last season, with the spearhead topping the Tigers’ goalkicking with 61 majors, well ahead of Dustin Martin (27) and Vickery (23).
List chief Blair Hartley welcomed the key forward depth and said the club was confident it could fit three tall forwards in a well-balanced attacking structure next season.
“They are all different, but I think we have learnt lot about them over the past 12 months, in particular with Ty, ‘Griff’ and Jack,” Hartley said.
“We didn’t have great success playing all thee of them last season.
“But we have learnt more about them to enable ourselves to structure ourselves up so they can all play in the same side, no doubt.
“We know Griff is better up the ground, Ty is a bit better closer to goal, and Jack can play anywhere, really.
“He can lead up the ground or if he has the right match up he can go deeper.”
The 202cm McBean, 20, was hampered by injury last summer but has already begun his third AFL pre-season campaign.
Shaun Hampson also played 14 games as a ruck-forward to cover Maric’s injury-absence.
“He (McBean) is going to attack the pre-season really strongly and it is exciting what he can bring,” Hartley said.
“Whether or not it is this year or years to come, he is going to have to earn his spot, just like everyone else.
“But it gives us a good opportunity in terms of depth in that position.”
The key forward structure looms as one of Damien Hardwick’s toughest selection headaches as the Tigers prepare to carry their hot finish to the season into next year.
Richmond leaders spoke of complacency in their pre-season training last season but have vowed to make amends in the lead-up to 2015.
The club has pick No. 12 in this month’s draft, but Hartley revealed the club was close to clinching deals in the trade period to improve its first pick.
Richmond also tried to swap that selection for Melbourne’s Jack Trengove but the deal was dumped when the Demon failed his medical test.
“We are really bullish about the draft,” Hartley said.
“We tried everything we could do to improve our draft position but we sat in a really awkward position and I think West Coast (No. 11), Fremantle (13) and Adelaide (14) all felt the same.
“We wanted to keep our picks and we approached a few different things, but again, we look at it with a long-term view.
“There is a history of trading out of strong drafts over the course of the entire competition, and we wanted to make sure we were involved in this one.”
http://www.news.com.au/national/richmond-blueprint-2014-tigers-tall-stuff-together-and-find-balance/story-e6frfkp9-1227124175779
